Rockefeller Center
- GE Building, The Concourse, Lego Store, Radio City Music Hall, Avenue of the Americas

Rockefeller Center is a city within a city that consists of several blocks and 21 skyscrapers and restaurants and stores. It was developed by one of the world's richest men, John D Rockefeller Jr, in the 1930s. GE Building, formerly RCA Bldg, is the center's tallest (70 floors) and most famous skyscraper and one of only 2 skyscrapers on Manhattan that has public observation decks. There is a large sunken plaza with a golden statue and a waterfall, it's called the Concourse. The plaza is a popular skating rink during the winter. The concourse is also famous for having the world's tallest christmas tree during Christmas. In the summer there is a passage to 5th Avenue filled with palm trees. Rockefeller Center also features New York's largest underground city, invisible from above. There is only one elevator that takes you down there so it feels a bit like a secret city. The architecture of the underground city is pretty ugly, but the stores are exclusive and there is access to the observation deck of GE Bldg, Top of the Rock. NBC Studios and the famous Radio City Music Hall are located in Rockefeller Center.The Center consist of the old part from the 1930s with 14 art deco building, including GE Building, and the extention with its 4 modernist skyscrapers built in the 1960s and 70s.In my 1998 trip to NY I missed Rockefeller Center, so it felt good to visit it several times in 2011.

To watch my pictures of the views from the observation deck of GE Building, visit the GE Bldg views page.

GE Building is the tallest and most famous building in Rockefeller Center. The art deco building was completed in 1933 and has 70 floors. It is 260m tall and was called RCA Building until 1988. On the top there is an observation deck called Top of the Rock, that was closed in 1986 and reopened in 2005. You can watch the views of it on the GE Bldg views page.

The 70-storey GE Building seen from 5th Avenue. Rockefeller Center was the largest project financed by only one person in modern times. On the 54-56th floor the office of the Rockefeller family is located.

GE Building's lowest floors features art deco decorations just above the entrance. The inscription is saying "Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times". It comes from the bible and the figure above it resembles God.

GE building with some of the flagpoles in front. It is one of the most famous and recognized skyscrapers of New York and looks very modern for being built in the 1930s.

The art deco lobby of GE Bldg.

NBC Studios and Rainbow Room, a famous restaurant, are actually part of the GE Buildign. NBC is one of USA:s largest TV broadcasting companies and include the studio where Saturday Night Live is recorded. Top the right you can see the famous Radio City Music Hall.

The statue of Atlas is welcoming visitors on 5th Avenue. It is a famous art deco bronze sculpture by Lee Lawrie that was installed in 1937.

The Concourse with its Prometheus statue and waterfall underneath the ground. There are also restaurants and cafés on the concourse.

This is where the famous ice rink and christmas tree is situated wintertime.

The plaza is lowered underground. Prometheus is a Greek god.

An exotic passage with palm trees leads to 5th Avenue. It is very popular by tourists. The Lego Store is next to it.

There are over 200 flagpoles at ground level. They represent UN countries and American states.

The palm passage seen from the Concourse.

Radio City Music Hall from 1932 is the largest theater in the world, featuring stage theaters and movie theaters. The tours of the buildings among New York's most popular, but we didn't go. The interior is considered one of the world's greatest example of Art Deco architecture.

The NBC Store with its neon globe!

Rockefeller Center also features New York's largest underground city, invisible from above. There is only one elevator that takes you down there so it feels a bit like a secret city. The architecture of the underground city is pretty ugly, but the stores are exclusive and there is access to the observation deck Top of the Rock.

Banana Republic can be seen everywhere in New York, here at Rockefeller Center.

Rockefeller Center seen from 5th Avenue.

In 1987, Rockefeller Center was declared a National Historic Landmark.

The Atlas Staute towards St Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Ave.

The LEGO store.

Rockefeller Center from the LEGO store.

Rockefeller Center in LEGO.

Avenue of the Americas:

Rockefeller Center's extention with its 4 international style skyscrapers built in the 1960s-70s on the west side of Avenue of the Americas. They consist of Time-Life Bldg, McGraw-Hill and News Corp/Fox News Bldgs and look similar to each other.

This nice waterfall is on the plaza in front of one of the modernist skyscrapers at Avenue of the Americas.

New York Hilton is in the end of the row. It is with over 2100 rooms New York's largest hotel.

To watch my pictures of the views from the observation deck of GE Building, visit the GE Bldg views page.